*What are your ideal reef tank parameters?

PatW · Mar 20, 2019

Ca: 420-450
Mg: 1350
ALK: 7.0 - 9.0
NO3: .5 - 5 ppm
PO4: .01 - .05 ppm
Salinity: 1.026
Temp: 77.5-78.5
SPS dominant

Note on ALK the value you run is less important than keeping it constant.

SeaDweller · Mar 20, 2019

240 DT and 60 gallon sump Acropora only, this is what I try to keep everything rock solid at
Temp: 77-78
Alk: 8.0-8.3 dKh
Ca: 420-430 ppm
Mg: 1350-1375
NO3: 2.5-5.0 ppm
PO4: 0.03-0.10 ppm
Salinity: 34-35 ppt

jsker · Mar 20, 2019

@PatW @TitanCi
Thank you for posting your numbers.

reacclimating 2 the hobby · Mar 20, 2019

Ca 460-480
Mg 1480
Alk 11.5
No3 20ppm
Po4 untraceable on redsea need to invest in hanna
salinity 36
Temp 79-80

Sps dominant, mostly frags still... 1 zoa, 2 acan and a goni other than SPS

jsker · Mar 20, 2019

reacclimating 2 the hobby said:
need to invest in hanna

The ultra low phosphorus is the checker you are looking for

. The refills are very inexpensive.

reacclimating 2 the hobby · Mar 20, 2019

jsker said:
The ultra low phosphorus is the checker you are looking for. The refills are very inexpensive.

it's next in line on the BRS wishlist

DHill6 · Mar 21, 2019

Temp 77.5-78
Alk 7.2-7.5
CA 440-460
Mg 1450
1.026
N03- 3ppm
P04-.01-.02
Hanna and Apex

KrisReef · Mar 21, 2019

Target Parameters,
(In PPM)
Ca 400-420
Mg 1360 -1450
Alk 150 (~8.5dKH)
No3 5-10*
Po4 .1*
salinity 35000
Temp 76
-
*not particularly stable

system type
Mixed Invertebrates, SPS codominant with LPS, scant mushrooms, trace zoas, 2 BT anemone, snails & hermit CUC, cryptic sponges, coralline algae, rigorous bacterial filter.
9 fish (wifes pets- coral food processors)

jtl · Mar 21, 2019

My params hold steady with weekly 10% water changes and 1 tsp per gallon of pickling lime per gallon of top off water.
Temp 79
Salinity 35ppt
pH 8.2
Alk 8-9
Ca 440
Mg 1350

My PO4 at .012 and NO3 at 1.0 can fluctuate a little but not too much.

jsker · Mar 22, 2019

@DHill6 @KrisReef @jtl
Thank you posting your numbers

jsker · Mar 23, 2019

Let’s see those idea parmaters your your system

DSC reef · Mar 23, 2019

Ca-450-460
Mg-1400-1500
Alk-9-9.5dkh
No3-10ppm
Po4-.02
salinity-1.26
Temp-78
Mixed reef with tridacna.

JDowns · Mar 23, 2019

Calcium: 425 - 450
Magnesium: 1500 - 1600
Alkalinity: 8.8 - 9.0
Nitrate: 5.0 - 20.0
Phosphates: 0.05 - 1.0
Salinity: 1.025 - 1.026
Temp: 77.0 - 77.5
PH: 8.3 - 8.6
System Type: Mixed

Dkeller_nc · Mar 23, 2019

jsker said:
I know that we have been guided toward parameters, but what is working best for your current system.

Ca - 420 - 450 ppm
Mg - Don't test it
Alk - 8.0 - 8.5 dKH (tightly controlled)
No3 - 5.0 - 10.0 ppm
Po4 - 200 ppb - 400 ppb
salinity - 1.026 sp. gr. @ 78 deg F
Temp - 78.0 - 78.3 deg F
system type, mixed, soft coals, LPS,or SPS - SPS with a few LPS

jsker · Mar 23, 2019

@DSC reef @JDowns @Dkeller_nc

One thing I am noticing is that the ideal parameters for everyone system is higher then I thought

@NY_Caveman suggested is to compile the numbers and average the parameter numbers, then post them for general information.

The more posted parameter the better

smiley28 · Mar 23, 2019

Ca:400-450ppm
Mg:1400-1500ppm
Alk:7.7-8.4dkh
No3:0-10ppm
Po4:0.02-0.06ppm
Salinity:1.025-1.026SG, 34-35ppt
Temp:78-80F
25g mixed reef

pH 8.1-8.3 mines been 8.2-8.4 lately

srad750c · Mar 23, 2019

Ca 425-450 ppm
Mg 1500 ppm
Alk 10 dKH
No3 1 ppm
Po4 0.03-.010
salinity 1.026
Temp 75.5
system type - 90 mixed

I ran these parameters for a long time, but now I have PO4 0.114, system still fine but I don’t like the increased algae and diatoms. Gotta day the corals love it. Going to have to use GFO or some other means of control. May just leave it alone.

Ferrell · Mar 24, 2019

Ca 440
Mg 1500
Alk 8.6
No3 5-10
Po4 0.12-0.15
salinity 34.5
Temp 77.7-78.2
system type, mixed, soft coal mixed reef softies and lps

Feed frozen twice a day, Reef Roids on Sunday’s, change socks every third day, run carbon GFO mix 6 hrs per day